January 14, 2025

Winter News from Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish

January 14, 2025

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,

In May Pope Francis announced in a beautiful homily the celebration of the JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE for the entire year of 2025. I would like to invite you to participate in some significant way in this Jubilee celebration. Here are two powerful quotes from Pope Francis’ homily that beautifully sets the stage for why he sees that this year of Jubilee is ever so necessary.

“It is our hope, based of Christ who died and rose again, that we wish to celebrate, ponder and proclaim to the whole world the coming jubilee…This hope has nothing to do with mere human optimism or the ephemeral expectation of some earthly benefit. No, it is something real, already accomplished in Christ, a gift daily bestowed upon us until the time when we will be one in the embrace of his love.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, let us lift up our hearts to Christ, and become singers of hope in a culture marked by much despair. By our actions, our words, the decisions we make each day, our patient efforts to sow seeds of beauty and kindness wherever we find ourselves, we want to sing of hope, so that its melody can touch the heartstrings of humanity and reawaken in every heart the joy and the courage to embrace life to the full.”

May the Pope’s vision become reality for everyone and for our world. Peace!!

Fr. George Couturier

Welcome to Ordinary Time

We transition from the Christmas Season to Ordinary Time on our Liturgical Calendar. Ordinary Time is anything but "ordinary." When referring to Ordinary Time, the word "ordinary" means counted time. This coming Sunday is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Sunday after that is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, and so on until we enter the Season of Lent on March 5. The liturgical color for the season is green as seen in the vestments Fr. George and Deacon Mike wear for Sunday Mass.

Prayer for Ordinary Time

God of Eternity,

As I walk the path of Ordinary Time,

help me to count the

many ways you are present:

In the comings and goings of family,

friends, coworkers and neighbors;

In the sounds of winter and

the beauty of your magnificent creation;

In the daily routines and responsibilities

that make up the rhythm of my days.

Make all time extraordinary

as I seek to become

more attuned to your presence.

Amen.

The Second Sunday

in Ordinary Time

January 19, 2025

4:00 PM Vigil at Saint James

9 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton

& livestreamed

11:00 AM at Saint James

Inviting all Sewers, Knitters & Crocheters

The Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish Knit, Crochet, Sew & Pray Ministries serve our community in generous ways.

The Knit, Crochet & Sew Good Works Ministry meets every Wednesday in Fr. Shea Hall at St. James Church from 1pm – 4pm.

The Morning Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the forth Monday of each month at St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 9am.

Contact: Betty Catelli at catellib64@gmail.com

The Evening Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the first Monday of each month at St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 6:45pm.

Contact: Laura Pentland at lbpent57@gmail.com

We are open to anyone who has the skills to sew, knit or crochet or who would like to learn how. Whether you knit or crochet quickly or slowly, your help is welcome to fulfill the mission of spreading God’s love through our craft. It is our hope that those who receive our crafts will feel the love that goes into making each and every one of them. Our time together begins and ends with prayer and all creations are prayed over and blessed prior to being gifted. Learn more here.

Learn More Here

Monthly Food Collection

Support our ongoing food and cereal collections for our monthly delivery to the Rocky Hill and Amazing Grace food pantries. Non-perishable food items and cereal boxes can be dropped off at either church location: St. James Church: Father Shea Hall, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the masses at 4:00 or 11:00. St. Elizabeth Seton Church: Bins located near the kitchen, Mon - Fri (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM) or before the Sunday mass at 9:00.

Easter Youth Choir

at St. Elizabeth Seton Campus

Our wonderful singers welcome more children interested in singing at the Easter Morning mass on April 20, 2025. Now is the time to start learning more about singing and the music of the church. Our singers are in 3-8 grade. This choir will sing at one mass a month as well. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 PM at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. We will resume rehearsals on January 15, 2025 after our Christmas break. Contact Elizabeth Husmer at elizabeth@sjbrh.org to register or just come to the first rehearsal on January 15 to join!

Greeters Needed!

An easy way to get more involved with the church in the new year is to become a greeter. Simply smile and greet people as they arrive and pass out bulletins after Mass. Greeters are needed at the 4:00PM Saturday vigil and the 11:00AM Sunday Mass, both at St. James. You can greet as often or as little as works for you. Please email ruschau@aol.com if you would like to join this important ministry.

Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish is excited to offer a very special opportunity for parents of children age birth to five. Nurturing Seedlings is designed to provide parents the support, encouragement and skills needed to nurture the spiritual life of their young children. The ministry also aims to build community among parents who are in the midst of raising babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Current research has found strong connections between spirituality and emotional well-being in children. Children who are solidly grounded in an affirming faith build up resiliency and are more likely to respond effectively when challenged by stressors. Children who are raised with a closeness to Jesus and grow up within a parish family feel more secure in their identity as a child of God. They will develop a spiritual compass for decision making.

The opportunity begins later in January under the leadership of Lori and Ken Gosselin. Learn more about how you can get involved by clicking the button below!

Learn More About Nurturing Seedlings Here